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CardioidMXL 960

Cardioid Tube Condenser Microphone

The MXL 960 is a large-diaphragm tube microphone with a fixed Cardioid polar pattern. It is built by MXL exclusively for Guitar Center and its affiliated retail chains.

It is billed by Guitar Center as “One of the quietest tube microphones available,” but the self-noise spec is ironically misprinted at 20dBA, which would be reasonable but not quiet. According to MXL, the self-noise rating is 13dBA, which is indeed quiet for a tube microphone; compare to the premium Lewitt LCT 840 and 940 tube mics, which have self-noise figures of 9dBA and 12dBA respectively.

MXL 960 PCBThe single circuit board reveals the use of discrete components and through-hole construction technique. (The tube is mounted behind the PCB.)
PCB photo from Jeff Laity

The mic ships with its power supply, a hard mount, a foam windscreen, a 7-pin Mogami cable, and a non-Mogami XLR audio cable, in an aluminum flightcase.

The MXL 960 is compatible with the MXL-60 elastic shockmount, which is not included.

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Specifications

Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Cardioid (20 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)
Capsule Dimensions Impedance SPL/Noise
Diameter n/a
Diaphragm gauge: 6 microns
200 Ohms (Low) Max SPL: 135 dB
Self-noise: 13.0 dB(A)
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
794g (28.01oz) 220mm (8.66'') 58mm (2.28'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications

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